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China has criticised a United States (US) government ban on DeepSeek AI tools, saying Washington has “overstretched” the meaning of national security.
In an AFP report, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, rejected the move at a news conference on Tuesday.
“China has consistently opposed the overstretching of the concept of national security and the politicisation of issues related to science, technology, and trade,” Mao said.
Beijing made its position clear after the US Department of Homeland Security announced the ban on Monday. The US department has directed civilian government agencies to remove DeepSeek products and third-party tools built using the Chinese startup’s technology from their information technology devices.
It warned that the tools could expose sensitive government data to China if US government employees or contractors used them. The department also raised concerns about DeepSeek’s servers being located in China. It said the country’s legal system gives the government “extensive authority” to access private company infrastructure.
The department’s ban applies to civilian agencies but does not cover the US military or intelligence services. The US government has described DeepSeek’s models as presenting “multiple threat vectors”.
The dispute comes following growing competition between China and the United States for leadership in artificial intelligence. Both countries have accused each other’s technology firms of stealing AI capabilities and creating security risks.
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DeepSeek, one of China’s leading AI laboratories, drew global attention in January 2025 after launching a low-cost, high-performance chatbot that challenged assumptions about US dominance in the sector. The company released its V4 model in April 2026 and updated a faster, lighter version this month.
The US has also accused DeepSeek and other leading Chinese AI firms of systematically taking capabilities from advanced models developed by American rivals. DeepSeek’s response to the latest ban was not immediately available. AFP said it had contacted the company for comment.
Despite the tensions, China and the US agreed in September to establish a “communication channel” for AI-related incidents. The issue could return to the agenda when the two countries’ leaders meet next month at a summit in Shenzhen, China.
